head lice, specifically nits

[ErnestTheBavarian]

help help help

I found lice on dc at weekend. Immediately bought shampoo and nit comb and treated them. I have combed them through about 10 times a day.

They have now been sent home from school as they found nits in their hair. I am in despair. They may not return until they have a doctors certificate stating they are free of lice & nits (standard procedure for everybody here).

But, short of shaving their effing heads, how do I get rid of the remaining nits? I have hot washed all of their clothes and bedding every day, and combed their heads a million times. How do I get rid of them? They've only been back from summer holidays just over a week, and now they are on enforced break indefinately.

Incidentally, ds2 & 3 happy to have hair cut. Ds1, aged 10 wants to grow his. I hate it and think it looks horrible onger anyway. Any tips for persuading him to cut it? I feel he is now of an age where he should be allowed to choose things for himself, but I hate it, but that's my problem I suppose

bump pls - someone mentioned nitty gritty. anyone experienced it?

Get a nitty gritty comb, they are the best and lots of conditioner. Keep combing!

The school policy is outrageous! I would not be happy with that. And sorry but what a waste of a Dr's appointment .

Nitty gritty. Someone said on here the other week, that it is a life changing nit comb. it catches all the nits and gets them out. If you google nitty gritty, you should find a stockist.

Also, tea tree shampoo keeps them away.

I would love that school policy!

Yes nitty gritty comb. I just put the conditioner on the dry hair, comb through small section at a time, wipe comb on a kitchen towel after each bit. then rinse off. Job done.

I was a bit and when I first heard of policy (not school, German law if I understand rightly). but actually, after hearing so many mumsnetters saying how many times their kids have got lice, and how man times there's a kid whose parent's just don't bother, I'm glad, and it forces you to take action and limits the spread. ds1 is 10 and this is the 1st time he's caught it. Now just have to see about getting one of them combs here

if you get stuck I'll happily send you one if you give me the dosh but the comb is £9.99 but at least our local chemists stock them!

hey I am the Head Lice Queen here!!!

DS came home a few weeks ago we were head lice virgins until then...quickly went on you tube to make sure they were head lice.

Bought Headrin £12, bought a plastic comb, then a metal comb another £5.

Ds hed still scratching so out of desparation - I was stripping the bed every morning, wet/conditioner combing morning and night also got his hair cut shorter still there until I stumped out another £10 from Boots on a Nitty Gritty Comb....DADA...our lives changed from then on.

Go to Boot buy a Nitty Gritty and apply conditioner and comb through each morning and night - they are fantastic.

They comb out the eggs and get the little suckers right out in one fair swoop, I found plastic combs and even the standard metal ones hurt my ds head plus didnt lift the eggs out.

Once you get the Nitty Gritty you will never look back.

I do this every other night now at bath time as part of our routine now

you can get them on percription I think if you print off a letter off the NG website and plead..however I couldnt wait and it was £10 well spent

Comb every 2-3 days. It will take up to 2 weeks to remove all nits and lice.

Cutting hair won't make any difference as the lice like to live near to the scalp. Having longer hair tied back does make it less likely that they will be transferred from another child though.

If you were in the UK they wouldn't be able to exclude your children from school for having head lice - not sure if that is any help to you though!

yes but the eggs tend to lie half way down the hair shaft so shorter hair I think is better

they lay eggs as close to the scalp as they can they just get moved down the shaft by the nit combing! They need the heat from the head I think.

quick update - thank you so much, esp cargirl - so kind of you. Luckily fil came over on saturday and managed to get over his shame and embarrassement and bought us one. pleased to say it did the job, and kids were able to get doc all clear yesterday and returned to school and civilisation today. still, it meant they had a day at home with grandad and got to go to the Oktoberfest instead of school, so not all bad

Hey! I've just found the solution to constant 'nits' and had to share it with you. It's only £19!!

www.mapertontrust.com/headlice/index.htm

ha ha magic badges! lol .